Als De Morgen is Gekomen (As The Morning is Coming)

It's a lazy Sunday mid-morning as I typed this in bed. This time next week, we will set foot on Malaysian soil again after a nine-month interim.

One more week to go before we board that early morning train for Schiphol. I just hope Schiphol will be kinder and gentler with us, as compared to Charles Du Gaulle.

After spending almost a year* here, home beckons.

Our stuff was picked up for shipping last Friday and now it's just time to clean up the apartment for the University inspection and packing the rest of our things into the bags all the while praying that they won't burst at the seams.

My heart is heavy just thinking about saying goodbye to this place we have called home for nearly a year. Delft has been a much needed break, a wonderful respite, and a place of musing.

While living in the Netherlands has its ups and downs, the same can be said for putting residence in Malaysia.

Smoke-filled cafes and restaurants in Holland versus massive traffic jams in Malaysia, for instance. Crummy, erratic weather in Delft as opposed to haze-infested Ampang is another example.

But there are many virtues and habits in this country that I completely desire for Malaysia to emulate. Effective recycling policy, pedestrian and handicapped friendly streets and ubiquitous cash debit card system in most stores, to name a few.

Some might be surprised to see the word virtue next to the word Holland but rest assured, it is not all sex, drugs and rock 'n roll here in the Netherlands. I believe there are perpetuating myths on cannabis, homosexuals and prostitution that need to be debunked.

Some blue-purple hydrangea bunches we bought at yesterday's Delft street market

Since time is running out to finish our to-do lists and many last-minute places to visit for nostalgic purposes, I will try to update as and when the golden opportunity arises, especially without me having to lose sleep over it!

If I don't, let's hope the internet connect in Malaysia is up by the time we plonk ourselves in our pastel-hued bedroom. Eh wait! We still have to clean, vacuum, scrub all the dusts and grimes on the bed, in the kitchen, in the living room and so on and so forth.....

Take care and let's pray that everything runs smooth when we hop that train next Saturday morning.

For now, enjoy this Dutch's cult hit that has clinched Jan Smit's platinum success. It is also my hubby's theme song when he slogged away at his dissertation. I know it has that 80s vibe, but it's infectious and fun!



*We went back for 11 days - late October to early November 2006 - to settle complicated and long-drawn Dutch visa application which propitiously coincided with Raya.